Coding and decoding device



Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

Application filed September 10, 1921.

Another object is to provide a device of tins type which is very simple and durable in construction and composed of comparatively fewparts not liable to get easily out of order.

With these and other objects in view, '0 the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention 5 is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. igure 1 is a plan view of the body of the coding and de-coding device;

Figure Zis a similar view of the retaining; ring for the removable characters on the body;

, Figure 3 is a plan view of the rotatable disk with one of the retainin lates for the removable characters removed and the other partly broken out; t

Figure 4 is a plan view of the improved coding and de-coding device; and

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 55 of Figure 4-.

Thebody of the coding and de-coding device is preferably made circular in shape and is provided with a central recess 11, the bottom of which is divided into radially disposed spaces or segments 12 each containing a record of a corresponding key number, full, words and phrases that are designated by, code numbers or letters, as will be readily understood by reference to Figure l. The rim 15 adjacent the recess 11 is provided with depressions or recesses 16 arranged in a circle and spaced apart, each depression containing a character 17, such as a letter of the alphabet, a numeral or the like. By the arrangement the characters 17 code and de-code a mes-c a 1,441,109. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFxlCyEgh ALLEN NEWEI'TTJ, OF ALBUQUEIRiQUIE, NEW MEXICO.

CODING AND DECODING ZDI-JVICF.

Serial No. 499,623.

are removably and interchangeably held in the depressions 16 to enable the user of the device to arrange any desired combination;

of characters and thus prevent an unauthorlzed person who may obtain knowledge of the code key from de-coding a message u'n r unauthorized person was alsoin possession of the combination of all the a less such characters. It is understood that in case of the loss of a code book, as now used,- an entirely new and different book must be furnished each correspondent; In case of loss ot my improved cipher, case it is onlynecessary to advise each correspondent to change the characters in lllS device to a'newlyfurnished combination. The characters i7 are held againstaccidental displacement in their depressions 16 by the use of a retaining ring 20 overlying the rim 15andhaving a aertures J21 re isterin with the characters v 1 17 but being somewhat smaller than characters to hold the'latter in place in their depressions 16. The retaining-ring 20 is heldagainst turning by suitable means, preferably by depending notches 23 formed in the of the body-10 "8O lugs 22 engaging 4 peripheral face,

The body 1O'isprovidedwith acentrally i I disposed nivot25 on whichis mounted to square block 27 attached to'the bottom of the recess 11. The outer portion of the disk I I turn a disk 26, resting at its middle on a v down into the recess 11, as"

plainly indicated in Figure 5. v The disk 26 is provided with an opening 30 corresponda r i V of the spaces mg in size and shape to one 12 on the bottom of the recess' ll and hence on turning ,the disk 26 on itspivot 25; the .i said opening 30can be moved in register with any one of the spaces 12 to enable the user to read the legend in the corresponding a p v be opened and closed by a door 31 preferf a "ably mounted to swing on the pivot 25Ias.

a center, and the said. door .31 when m closedposition, as shown in Figure 4:, abuts.

space 12. The opening 30 is adapted to withits lower edge against a lug 32 struck up on the disk'26 at thelower wall of the The upper edge of the door T y 31 is provided with a depending lug 33 opening adapted toengage'an aperture 34; formed 1 in the, disk 26 to hold the door 31 in open position relativ'eto the openlng 30. When the door 31 is in closed position the lug 33 l Figures 3and L The of the'disk 26 by'anut ,-scre v ing on, upper end of the pivot thus holding "the The characters 42- and .43 are held in place by retainingpplates fi and/5L6 having op'em ingsAT and48 somewhat smaller thanthe accide'ntalcr The 42 and 43 can cesses l'O extends into anotch 3:5 formedvin; the," upper {Wall of the opening 30, as plainly shown in door 31 is held on top the disk 26 as Well as the door. 31 proper a I 1 I 7 NorthernPacifiW is to be coded and the face of the dis-k126- is .PlQVide d/ s e; with two sets of circularly arranged recesses I or ClGPI$SlOI1Sf g and; 1&1 adaptedvtoj contain I removable ands-e interchangeable codifying I and de-codifyingicharacters f4:2,-z43,1prefer-* i ably. in the forin f numerals from *lpxto '91.; The characters -4l2 and: 143 are removable and intere'hangeable for the same: reason 'a sa that' position.

The upper given above in reference to thecharacters 17.

chariicters l2"-and}43 to prevent I disp'laeenient 0f the "saidcharacters.

the said digit is the first letter-of the coded letter; the j finder,.i. ,being set as above described---for each letterfof. the message.-

plates ld'and 46'are preferably segmental in;

' in I the disk 26 and; 41 1 I In order to enable -tl ie }user to readily iden-. tiffy the spaees 1 2 and the legends-contained: id spaces are preferaihly mini-' 1 (see "1 and the 15fisisimilarl number d eon; I I seciitively. Additional disk records pro vided with-spaces 12am legends thereon the recess 11 belovv'the disk? 26'. The "said disk recordsg "are pro nided' therein-{the sa hered consecutively retain ng ring ma be placed ,lIl

vvithjcentrally disposed square apertures fit-' tmg Ontothe lock 27 m hold tihedisk records v againstftiirning.

in'aii'ner ing 'prefe-rahlyjoi tii'of or more digits:

. shape and areprovided at their ends with 1 depending lii-gs-g ltl engaging slots formed It will he noticed that one removingthe-plates 4:5"a nd 46 the'icharact ers be reinoved from their re- I I and replacedihy other ,codis ,tyingand-cle-codifyi1ig character's-as the case 7 i I I tained above and I characters arranged in, inanneijsii'ch that one *setmiyxbef used- :fOl COdlIig a messager" aiinessage by words} or phrases SuChL$-ShOwIi the niessa geyand theletter-registering; with message. This process is repeated foreach Sell I nuin-, ber 2857.;is tozbe-iisedesa key number.- The inessage and key number are arranged as folows: U a 1 For examplegsupp'ose the" message process, namely the key 3 number is Written? over themessage in, code'assigning a digit'to l each letter ofsthe message' Thefffinder? .is 8 6 then brought toregister'with the firstu'letter of-the coded-message and the letter register-if? ingwith its cori espondin g keyim inberdigit the original or de codedmI message-r f 1 For example; take thecode niessage ob-fi I arrange'the key number 1*" with respect to it asifollovvs 2857 28572857 2857285 -ii1vsi-*v kkxzfvx g z dg'yczg and by using the (lei-Coding niethod' 'abov iu describedtheoriginal messageis ohtainedi- It is 't'dbe noted that theatwo sets 'of char- I acters I42 a'nd43 mayhavetheir,individusi and theother set may he use'd' -for= de-coding f the message. y In using th "invention to pode'o'r' ole-code n theseg ne'nts 12 in Figure-' 1 of the" dravv 1 "seginentsffl by a'ny "code number setting -message:' tl0' heedded' is thenivritten and" the I I key'l -niimber ".1Ilsdljlbetl above the same in *a for each letter of'theinessagez1 The message;

som'efoiie iof the"charaoters42 or 43 7 Prev ously i determined upon as a finder? char I acterishroi ghfltoregister tviththe fir st letr v ter o fgtheniessage as fOdridamqhg the'char 1 Inessage'as iwrittei'iiprepjaratory to coding, is.

brought-into register'with the era lettefbf v fs ch that of I the .key nuin ber regi'sters with each letter I o iithe Writ- I ten fihe'sstge, {it being understood "that said. "f

i key inllln belf j is: repeated?consecutively as" often as may be necessary to prov de a'di'git' designs tin 'g the di sk' p I I, v ings the opening 30 of the' 'disk 26is brought "In operating the invention as a coding I ring attached? might-he sent in code by the to register with a the proper legend onthe P I fortlnth'e registering;ch racters of the disk 7 andlriin, and a character fto iiidioate which 'of the disk'records is t'o' be mounted; on? the post 27 priorto]de codingiafinessageg For example; the" ine's'sz'ige' *Ship'pers loa'd and count, *FL 0 B. destination, hillfof laid? f folioWii g' chara cters thati'the door 31' is to be posit'oned' consecii'e' tively in coincidence; 2 and 4; on the rirn i I I so i 1; The codedvniessageias obtained'above mayi'w 'be de -coded by a simple "reversal of the above-" containing code matter, the face of the body being provided adjacent the recess with spaced code characters, a rotatable disk mounted to turn in the said recess and havingits face provided with sets of codifying and de-codifying characters adapted to register with the said characters on the face of the body, the said disk having an opening adapted to register with any one of the said segments on the bottom of the recess.

A coding and decoding device coinprising' a body having a circular recess, the bottom of which is divided into segments containing code matter, the. face of the body being provided adjacent the recess with spaced code cha 'acters, a rotatable disk mounted to turn in the said recess and having its face provided with sets of codilt'ying and de-codifying characters adapted to register with the said characters on the face of the body, the said disk having an opening adapted to register with any one of the said segments on the bottom of the recess, and a closure for the said disk opening to open or close the latter.

A coding and decoding device, comprising a body having a circular recess and a pivot rising centrally therein, the bottom of the recess being divided into segments containing code matter and the rim of the body adjacent the circular recess being provided with spaced code characters, a disk fitting into the said recess and mounted to turn on the pivot, the disk being provided at its face adjacent the edge with codifying characters and de-codifying characters adapted to register with the said code characters. on the rim of the body, the disk having an opening adapted to register with any one of the segments on the bottom of the said recess, and a door mounted to swing on the said pivot for opening and closing the said disk.

4. A coding and de-coding device comprising a body provided with removable and interchangeable code characters arranged in a circle, segmental spaces on the body within the said circle and containing code matter, a rotatable disk mounted to turn on the body and provided with an opening adapted to register with any one of the said segmental spaces, and removable and interchangeable sets of codifying and de-codifying characters arranged on the said disk and adapted to register with the said characters on the body.

5. A coding and decoding device comprising a body having a circular recess the bottom of which is divided into segments containing code matter, the face of the rim of the body adjacent the recess being provided with depressions arranged in a circle, code characters removably and interchangedepressions and the a rotatable disk mounted to turn in the said recess and provided with an opening adapted to register with any of the said segments, the disk being provided with removable and interchangeable sets ofcodifying and decodifying characters adapted to register with the said characters on the rim of the body, and means holding the said disk characters in place.

6. A coding and de-coding device comprising a body having a circular recess, the bottom of which is divided into segments containing code matter, the face of the rim of the body adjacent the recess being provided with depressions arranged in a circle, code characters removably and interchangeably held in the said depressions, a ringshaped retaining cap overlying the said rim and characters and having apertures registering with the said depressions and the characters therein to hold the latter in place, the said retaining cap having at its inner edge an annular flange, a rotatable disk mounted to turn in the said recess and rest ing on the said flange, the disk having an opening adapted to register with any one of the said segments, thedisk being provided with sets of removable and interchangeable codifying and de-codifying characters adapted to registerwith the said characters on the rim of the body.

7. A coding and de-coding device, comprising a body having a circular recess, the,

bottom of which is divided into segments containing code matter, the face of the rim of the body adjacent the recess being pro vided with depressions arranged in ,a circle, code characters removably and interchangeably held in the said depressions, a ringshaped retaining cap overlying the said rim and characters and having apertures registering with the said depressions and the characters therein to hold the latter in place, the said retaining cap having at its inner edge an annular flange, a rotatable disk mounted to turn in the said recess and rest.- ing on the said flange, the disk having an opening adapted to register with any one of the said segments, the disk being provided with sets of removable and interchangeable codifying and de-codifying characters adapted to register with the said characters on the rim of the body, and at least one record member held removably and against turning in the said recess beneath the said rotatable disk.

ALLEN N EW ELL. 

